Flash Update #4 Tropical storm hits | 21 March 2018

Highlights

• Tropical Storm Eliakim impacted thousands of people and damaged infrastructure, including schools. • Access to the most affected areas is challenging as roads were impacted by the storm. • About 18,800 people have been affected, including 20 dead. Situation Severe Tropical Storm Eliakim made landfall in north-eastern Madagascar on 16 March in Maroantsetra district, which was one of the districts most affected by Enawo in 2017. After 48 hours of heavy rain, winds and floods in the north and north-eastern areas of Madagascar, Eliakim left the Island from Vatomandry district on 18 March.

Almost half of the northern region of Madagascar was affected by Tropical Storm Eliakim. The areas most affected by severe or moderate floods are Maroantsetra, Ambilobe and Brickaville districts, while and Mananara nord districts suffered the effects of strong winds. Access to affected areas is a challenge due to affected roads.

Preliminary reports from an aerial assessment indicate that some 18,800 people have been affected. Twenty people have been confirmed dead and one is missing. Eliakim also damaged infrastructure, particularly roads and schools. Housing, rice fields and water points were also damaged by flooding. There are an estimated 61 damaged classrooms, 687 destroyed houses and 643 water points flooded which has left 14,200 people without access to potable water and 43,000 without access to adequate sanitation. Some of the displaced and evacuated people have already returned to their homes, while some remain in temporary sites in Maroantsetra and Antalaha. Response The Malagasy Bureau National de Gestion des Risques et Catastrophes (BNGRC) is leading the response and had pre-deployed four response teams to the eastern and north-eastern regions, accompanied by search and rescue units. These teams led field coordination and supported evacuation of the population in the most at risk areas. All sector groups were activated and met to plan the response. Emergency stocks pre-positioned in different areas of the country are being mobilized to respond to the urgent needs. However, due to limited accessibility to the hardest-hit areas, logistical support is required. The national road reaching the districts of Ambilobe and Mandritsara is cut-off at several points, and the district of Maroantsetra is currently only accessible by air and sea.

The response strategy consists of a multisector intervention for Maroantsetra district, which is the most affected, and sector-specific interventions for the rest of the districts. Urgent needs in the most affected areas include provision of water, hygiene and sanitation, temporary schools, food and healthcare. Damaged roads and bridges need to be urgently rehabilitated. An in-depth assessment of needs in the agricultural sector will be required.

This will be the final Flash Update on Tropical Storm Eliakim.

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Coordination Saves Lives | www.unocha.org/southern-eastern-africa | Twitter: @OCHA_ROSEA